Two luxury lodges – 25 minutes from each other – are being built for the Mantis Collection in the new uMfolozi Big Five Reserve.

Named after the local chiefs who contributed their land, Mthembu Lodge will open its doors in September and Biyela Lodge will be ready to welcome guests from October.

Biyela Lodge, nestled on a spectacular bend on the White iMfolozi River, will have 12 luxurious one-bedroom Private Villas (each of 100sqm) each with private pool, and two two-bedroom Family Villas (155sqm each), sleeping 32 guests in total. Spa and gym facilities will also be on offer.

Mthembu Lodge, with panoramic views of the water and thickets, will comprise seven luxurious one-bedroom Private Villas (112sqm each) and two two-bedroom Family Villas (155sqm each), sleeping a total of 22 guests. Children aged six years and older will be allowed on game drives, with children 13 years and older being able to join on walking safaris.

Guests are encouraged to travel to uMfolozi by transfer, which can be arranged with reservations, to allow them to enjoy the scenic route dotted with important battlefields and prominent grave sites. The reserve is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from King Shaka International Airport and one-and-a-half hours from Richards Bay.

What is uMfolozi Big Five Reserve?

uMfolozi Big Five Reserve is a 6000-hectare tract of tribal land currently being incorporated into the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu Natal and is set to open in September. The reserve was developed after extensive consultation between the tribal chiefs, their communities, and Ezemvelo (the public authority responsible for Hluhluwe iMfolozi) and in association with the Mantis Group.

This landmark agreement, whereby tribal land is incorporated into protected government land, will increase the protected area to over 100 000 hectares and provide much-needed employment. Currently, it is underutilised land plagued by unemployment in the indigenous communities. In its new format, more land will be protected for animals to roam free, and the surrounding communities will benefit economically through either direct employment at the lodges or outsourced services such as the growing of vegetables and laundry to name only a few.

The uMfolozi Big Five Reserve will be on the southwestern border of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, overlooking the wilderness area. The Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park is the oldest proclaimed protected Game Reserve area in South Africa, dating back to 1895. Stretching over 96 000 hectares, it is 190km (2.5 hours) north of Durban, in central Zululand, KwaZulu Natal. The reserve is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts.

A new breed of sustainable development

Named the uMfolozi Big Five Reserve as a nod to the early conservation pioneers who used to call the area uMfolozi, and also differentiate it from the main reserve. It is in these valleys where Zulu King Shaka, unbeknown to the world, pioneered a culture of conservation before the concept was coined by European settlers, by proclaiming this area his royal hunting ground. This reserve is also where the very first steps with Operation Rhino were taken almost 70 years ago under the guidance of revered global conservationist, the late Dr Ian Player.

The uMfolozi Big 5 Reserve epitomises what Mantis stands for: ‘Man And Nature Together are Sustainable’. It also brings full circle, the friendship Adrian Gardiner, Founder of Mantis and Chairman of the Wilderness Foundation Global, had with Dr Ian Player. Dr Player was instrumental in saving the White rhino from extinction in the late 1950s, at the very same reserve to which the uMfolozi Reserve has now been added.

In the words of Adrian: “Mantis is honoured to have the opportunity to invest in and continue with conservation in the area where the monumental work of my friend and mentor, Dr Ian Player, began.”

For Enquiries please contact Liezl Meyer – 041 404 9300 | reservations@mantiscollection.com